Topic > Thomas Jefferson vs. Alexander Hamilton

IndexIntroductionAnalysis of the topicConclusionIntroductionThomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Virginia; his father was a prominent man who owned over 1,400 acres of land. His mother came from one of the famous families of Virginia. As such, he had a very comfortable childhood, free of financial constraints. Alexander Hamilton on the other hand was born in Nevis as the second child of a union between James and Rachel Hamilton. Her mother had separated from her first husband before settling down with Mr Hamilton. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Soon after his father passed away, leaving him with his mother who died a few years later. Unlike Jefferson, Hamilton had difficulties during his childhood. However he fought hard to get a proper education with the help of a friend. The events following the American Revolution were a defining moment for both Jefferson and Hamilton. Argument Analysis Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Harvie, January 14, 1760 In this letter, Jefferson intends to convince his guardian why he should enroll in College. It should be noted that it was this particular letter that opened up myriad opportunities for Jefferson. He convincingly argues his case by stating that the opportunity to enroll in college will cause him to gain “…a more universal knowledge that may be useful to me later…(Cunning, 5).” According to Jefferson, his study at the College of William and Mary was an incredibly transformative experience in his entire life: “It was my great fortune and what probably fixed the destinies of my life… (Cunning, 5). “Alexander Hamilton, Letter to Edward Stevens, November 11, 1769 This was a letter that would change Hamilton's life for the better. In the letter, he stated why he wanted to continue his studies. “… I am confident Ned that my youth excludes me from any hope of immediate promotion… but I wish to prepare the way for the future… (Cunning, 6).” In my opinion, it was his desire to succeed academically that made him who he was. He didn't let his bad past affect his future, no wonder he plans for his future success. Thomas Jefferson, Opinion on the Constitutionality of the Bill for the Establishment of a National Bank, February 15, 1791 In this letter, Jefferson seeks to convince of the importance of establishing a National Bank which is not inconsistent with the constitutional provisions concerning the establishment of the same. He mentions powers given to the State including “…The power to levy taxes for the purpose of paying the debts of the United States…” and “…to borrow money…(Cunning, 55).” He then goes on to justify how important the National Bank will be for both the state and the citizens. He claims that “…a bank will offer great facilities or convenience in the collection of taxes… (Cunning, 57).” This opinion paper led to many developments in the U.S. Treasury, including the creation of a National Bank that played a critical role in making the United States a superpower. All taxes were easily collected by the bank, thus reducing the expenses of each state and thus improving the economy of the United States. This quote made a lot of sense to me since a government depends entirely on taxes; therefore finding a simple and safe way to collect taxes was a sure way to improve the economic conditions of a country. George Washington, Letter to Alexander Hamilton, July 29, 1792 After being appointed to the Treasury during the era of President George Washington, Hamilton had a duty to ensure that the country's economy did not collapse. In this letter, however,.